Do you make a really cool product that you know would sell well if only you could get people to see it? You may have opened an Etsy shop but your work is lost in the crowd, right?
Selling online is great but don’t over look the value of face-to-face. Your work is made by hand and your first goal should be physically getting it into the “hands” of your potential customer.
So, you’re probably thinking, “How can I do that if no one knows about it?” Well, for starters, don’t keep your work a secret. Here are a few suggestions to get your work out there so that people will notice and want to purchase it.
Let’s assume you make something wearable-jewelry, handbags or scarves. If you have a day job, wear one of your pieces every single day. When anyone compliments you on it, don’t be shy. Say, “Oh, I make these. Would you like to see more?” Then make sure you have either some actual pieces or great photographs. You can even burn discs with images of your work and keep them in your desk to hand out to anyone who compliments you on them. Always have your contact info in your pocket.
Mention to the admirer that you would be happy to do a show of your work at her home. They can invite a few friends and you can offer the host a discount or complimentary piece. Or. even better, as an incentive for her to invite more people, agree to give her 10% of the total sales from the party towards her own purchase.
What if you don’t work outside the home? Ask a sister or friend who works in a busy office or is out in the field calling on clients if she would like to wear your pieces and then when people compliment her, she can invite them to a party she hosts. Make sure she also keeps photos and your contact info at her desk or in her purse. People wearing your work are your best advertising. They are free, walking billboards.
If you don’t make wearables, you can still use the same system. Say you make picture frames or framed prints. Keep them out on your desk and offer to let friends in busy offices put them out on their desks. If they work in a hospital or other institution where patients or customers are at their desks, even better. Your audience will expand beyond co-workers.
As an added incentive to get friends to promote your work, let them sell your pieces for you for a percentage of the sale. For more ideas on how to sell your handmade work, go to http://www.craftbizblog.com where you can get a free report “13 Easy Low-Cost or NO Cost Tips to Turn Your Crafts into CASH NOW”.
contributor bio: Terri Belford has been self-employed for more than 30 years and been on all sides of the art and handmade craft business as an artist, gallery owner and consultant to artists and crafts people. You can follow her on Twitter @craftbizcoach and Facebook.
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I really liked the articles that I read,they made sense and u could understand no talking over your head or down to you.
In regard to your comment about hospitals, we have a policy here that NO MOONLIGHTING is allowed. Not to patients, nor to fellow employees. The result could be termination. I agree that you can wear your stuff, and say you made it, but you cannot say “I’ll show you more.” FYI, its in our Ethics Policy
There are some great ideas here, but, like the above poster said, you’d better check company policy before you do any selling or promoting at your workplace. I’ve worked in grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants, and every one of my supervisors would have either fired me, or at the very least, reprimanded me, if I’d have been promoting any products besides the ones of that particular company.
I’m expanding a little on the hospital angle. I’ve worked in a private medical rehab center, and they had no issue with me displaying products I had made. I was also permitting to give out informational discs and business cards, but nothing further. Definitely check with your place’s policies or ask a supervision first – don’t just assume it is or isn’t okay.